MONDAY 20, NOVEMBER, 2023

NHS Tayside supports European Testing Week

European Testing Week (ETW), which runs from 20-27 November marks the 10th anniversary of the campaign that encourages organisations throughout Europe to unite for one week to increase testing efforts and promote awareness on the benefits of earlier hepatitis and HIV testing.

Easier and earlier access to testing reduces late diagnosis, helps reduce the risk of onward transmission and helps prevent the most harmful impacts of these infections, thereby leading to healthier lives. 

One major barrier to testing is the stigma associated with HIV, viral hepatitis and STIs. In relation to HIV and viral hepatitis, stigma can be understood as negative perceptions of people living with these infections, solely based on their HIV or hepatitis status. Discrimination occurs when people experience negative or unfair treatment based on the perceptions.

 Dr Kirsty Licence, Chair of the Tayside Sexual Health and BBV managed care network Board said, “Testing for HIV, viral hepatitis and STIs is now widely available through many different routes,  but the stigma people can feel if they look for these tests remains a very substantial barrier for some, preventing people from getting the treatment and support they need.  We all need to consider how we can reduce that stigma, and the discrimination that sometimes goes with it, in our work and personal lives, in how we talk about these infections and how we deliver services and supports that are accessible, welcoming and inclusive for everyone.”

As part of World AIDS Day plans and to celebrate Dundee City Council and Perth & Kinross Council signing the Paris agreement and joining the Fast Track Cities Initiative, pop-up HIV testing will be available on 1 December on The SafeZone Bus at Thimblerow car park Perth (11am-1pm) and Dundee City centre (2pm-4pm location tbc). 

What can you do this European Testing Week? 

If you think you are at risk of HIV, hepatitis or STI, get tested. 

Encourage other people at risk to get tested. 

Think about how you talk about HIV, hepatitis and STIs-might you be stigmatising friends and family without meaning to? 

Testing is also available at a number of harm reduction centres across Tayside and details can be found at Harm Reduction - NHS Sexual Health Tayside. HIV postal testing can be accessed here.

Notes to editors:

In 2019, NHS Tayside led the way in developing innovative approaches to tackling hepatitis C and became the first region in the world to effectively eliminate the disease. This achievement met the Scottish Government’s 2024 target of a 90% reduction in prevalence of hepatitis C and the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) 2030 target for reducing prevalence of hepatitis C 11 years early.

Contact:

Abigail Reid

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 740716